PEABODY Gazette-Bulletin

Holiday spirit filled the air at the Florence Chamber of Commerce annual Christmas gathering Saturday.
Bennie Holtsclaw sang Christmas carols while parents and children anxiously awaited for Santa to arrive. Refreshments of hot chocolate and cookies were served.

After hearing an emotional statement from a mother whose 14-year-old daughter was the victim of aggravated indecent liberties, District Judge Michael Powers sentenced Daniel Scott Huls II, 33, Burns, to two concurrent sentences of 4 years, 11 months in prison.
The mother said she’d tried to put the things she wanted to say on paper, but realized some things she wanted to say were vindictive. The investigation into the incidents, which occurred between July 1 and Sept. 30, 2015, uncovered an additional incident that had not been reported, she said.

Students from kindergarten to high school seniors are spending the first week in December decorating Christmas trees at 15 businesses in the community.
“We wanted an event to get people into local businesses to see the trees our school children decorated,” Peabody Dreamers member Linda Miles-Martinez said. “We are trying to encourage local shopping and thought this might be one way to encourage people to get into our businesses.

Sponsors of Giving Tuesday/Winterfest at Peabody-Burns High School on Nov. 29 were hosts to a large crowd of community members committed to sharing with local charitable groups. Peabody Community Foundation and Peabody-Burns School district partnered to put on the event in conjunction with a nationwide promotion of charitable giving.
Those in attendance made generous donations to student groups for the soup supper and to local charities for their wish list items. The total amount donated topped $6,000.

Peabody-Burns school district will provide a warm bus and a bus driver to take seniors and nursing home residents on a tour of Peabody homes and businesses Dec. 14.
Anyone in the community who wants to accompany the group is asked to meet at 6 p.m. at Peabody Senior Center. There is no charge to participate. The bus will pick up riders at the center, then move on to Peabody Health and Rehab at 6:15 p.m. and Westview Manor at 6:30 p.m.

Not everyone’s Christmas season is filled with joy and celebration.
Those dealing with death of a loved one, loss of a job, or other sorrow can find it difficult to navigate through the season.

To understand the artistry of Kaycee Chermak of Florence, one must follow a trail that begins with with mermaids.
Mystic sea maidens were a childhood fascination that found expression in her earliest drawings.

Three farm officials agree that the overall acreage of fall wheat is down in Marion County and may be the lowest it has ever been.
Although he could not quantify exactly how much it is down, county extension agent Rickey Roberts said the reason for the decline in wheat acreage is simple.

One of the most popular quotes from playwright William Shakespeare is “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” For “Night at the Barn,” a live nativity put on by the Tabor Mennonite Youth Fellowship, not only will men and women be players, but varieties of farm animals will as well.
Various farm animals will be involved in the live nativity scene in a barn on the farm of Maynard Knepp and Carol Duerksen. Included are donkeys, sheep, goats, and even guineas and pigeons.

A committee working on economic development plans for Marion County expects to finish research, weed out the unimportant, and be ready to write a plan for moving ahead this month.
County commissioners last week voted to approve a charter presented by Chris Hernandez, chairman of the economic development committee.

Former Peabody area farmer Willard V. Harms, 87, died Friday at Hillsboro Community Hospital.
He was born Nov. 12, 1929, to Leonard and Martha (Penner) Harms in Newton. He also had a stepmother, Elizabeth. On August 17, 1956, he married Ruby Funk. Willard was a farmer and stockman and a member of Grace Hill Mennonite Church.

Fred “Fritz” Helmer, 90, Marion, died Monday at St. Luke Hospital in Marion.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Zeiner Funeral Home. Services will be at 1:30 p.m., Saturday at Eastmoor United Methodist Church in Marion. Burial will be in Marion Cemetery.

IN MEMORIAM:

Standing like a sentinel over history, a weathered, two-story, wood-frame house can be seen on a hill along US-56/77 northeast of Marion.
The shingles are gone, windowpanes shattered, and doors missing, but its rooms once were filled with the voices of parents in conversation and children at play.

Kansas Farm Service Agency has extended the deadline to submit ballots for 2016 county committee members until Tuesday.
Producers who participate in a farm program are eligible to vote.

Our community has been hit hard in the past several months by the deaths of people who have been a part of the fabric of Peabody.
These are people who have given repeatedly to keep the community viable and who have contributed to the best parts of our successes.

Judy Mace recently wooed an audience with the soothing sounds of her harp at Tabor College.
Many Lifelong Learning patrons closed their eyes and absorbed her harp’s sonic vibrations as they rippled through a room in the Wohlgemuth Music Education building.

Senior Citizens of Marion County will hold a board of directors meeting at 9:30 a.m. Dec. 16 at Marion Senior Center.
Marion seniors will be serving lunch and need reservations by Dec. 14.

USDA commodities will be distributed from noon to 2 p.m. Dec. 21 at Lincolnville Community Center.

Blood drives are planned later this month in western Marion County.
Donations will be accepted from noon to 6 p.m. Dec. 23 at Hillsboro City Hall and from noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 28 at Goessel Mennonite Church.

BURNS:

WONSEVU:

Peabody-Burns boys’ basketball team started its season off with a win of 45-42 over the Herington Railers Friday.
Coach Caleb Good said he felt the team performed really well for their first game of the season.

Peabody-Burns girls showed plenty of energy during their first game of the season Friday, but not enough to stop them from losing to the Herington Railers 26-47.
The girls kept it a close game for the first half, but during the second, Herington managed to up their antics and end with 21 more points than Peabody-Burns.

Both Peabody-Burns Warriors teams fell to the Eureka Tornadoes in their first games of the Marion Classic basketball tournament Tuesday night.
The Lady Warriors lost 18-37, with Jory Rives leading scoring with 6 points. Nikki Sanders, Anna Lubbers, and Mallory Harris all scored 4 points each.

Entries for Hoch Publishing coloring and recipe contests are due by 5 p.m. Dec. 16.
The Santa’s Christmas Coloring Contest for kids 3 to 10 must be the picture printed in the Nov. 23 edition of the Marion County Record, Hillsboro Star Journal, and Peabody Gazette-Bulletin. Copies of the picture are available at the Hoch Publishing office.

Blood drives are planned later this month in western Marion County.
Donations will be accepted from noon to 6 p.m. Dec. 23 at Hillsboro City Hall and from noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 28 at Goessel Mennonite Church.

Ballet Wichita will perform The Nutcracker at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at McPherson Opera House.
The performance follows a little girl’s journey through a fantasy world of fairies, princes, toy soldiers, and an army of mice.